Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s former first minister, finds herself at the center of a political storm after revelations from her soon-to-be-published memoir, Frankly, reignited controversy over the 2018 sexual misconduct investigation into her predecessor and one-time mentor, Alex Salmond. The book’s excerpts, released in leading British newspapers on August 10, 2025, have drawn sharp rebukes from Salmond’s allies, who accuse Sturgeon of distorting the truth and fabricating claims about the origins of a leak that rocked Scottish politics seven years ago.
In the memoir, Sturgeon categorically denies any role in leaking details of the Scottish Government’s internal investigation into allegations against Salmond to the Daily Record. She writes, “I do not know who leaked it, but it was not me or anyone acting with my authority or knowledge.” Yet, Sturgeon goes on to speculate that Salmond himself, or someone close to him, might have orchestrated the leak to control the narrative, stating, “It crossed my mind many times that it might have been Alex himself or someone acting on his behalf. To those with no experience of the dark arts of media manipulation, I know this will sound preposterous. However, in many ways it would have been classic Alex.”
This suggestion has prompted a fierce backlash. According to BBC Scotland, David Clegg—the journalist who broke the original story as political editor of the Daily Record—dismissed Sturgeon’s speculation as “not credible.” Clegg explained, “If it was Alex Salmond who had leaked it, when I phoned him up that night to put the claims to him, he did an incredible acting job of seeming surprised and shocked. It always struck me as not credible and I would be very surprised if that was the case.” Clegg further clarified that the documents arrived anonymously by post at the newspaper’s offices, adding to the enduring mystery surrounding the source.
The leak itself set off a chain of events that would lead to a judicial review, a criminal trial, and the spectacular breakdown of one of the most powerful political partnerships in recent Scottish history. In 2018, Salmond was investigated by the Scottish Government after two women made allegations of sexual misconduct. Before the findings were officially released, details were leaked to the media, prompting Salmond to launch a judicial review. The Scottish Government initially defended its process but ultimately conceded after the review concluded the investigation was “unlawful, unfair and tainted by apparent bias.” Salmond was awarded over £500,000 in legal expenses. A separate police investigation and criminal trial followed in 2020, with Salmond ultimately cleared of 14 charges, including attempted rape. During the trial, his lawyer acknowledged Salmond “could have been a better man.”
Sturgeon’s memoir also recounts a dramatic meeting at her home near Glasgow in April 2018, when Salmond informed her of the allegations and sought her intervention to halt the investigation. She writes that while Salmond appeared “upset and mortified,” he “effectively” admitted the substance of one complaint and wanted her to “intervene” to stop the inquiry. Sturgeon refused, calling this moment the beginning of the end for their storied political partnership.
Reactions from Salmond’s allies have been swift and scathing. Former SNP minister Alex Neil, as reported by The Times, called for Sturgeon to “immediately issue a retraction and an apology to Moira Salmond for the hurt she has caused her.” Kenny MacAskill, Salmond’s successor as leader of the Alba Party, accused Sturgeon of “seeking to rewrite history and distorting the truth.” He argued, “It was Nicola Sturgeon’s Government which was found to have acted unlawfully, procedurally unfairly, and tainted with apparent bias. It was for that reason that enhanced expenses were awarded against the Government. Far from being some passive bystander, Ms. Sturgeon was at the centre of events that many see as a conspiracy. It’s why there has to be an inquiry into the role of the Scottish Government in their actions against Alex Salmond and the cover up that has been ongoing ever since.”
Chris McEleny, former general secretary of Alba, went further, telling BBC Scotland News that Sturgeon’s account was a “fabrication.” McEleny described the investigation as a “stitch up” and alleged that several public bodies had “conspired to jail Salmond.” He contrasted Salmond’s political achievements with Sturgeon’s, claiming, “Alex Salmond delivered an SNP government, an SNP majority and an independence referendum whereas Nicola Sturgeon delivered nothing whatsoever for the national cause.”
Joanna Cherry, a former SNP MP and vocal critic of Sturgeon, weighed in on social media, calling the idea that Salmond leaked the allegations “ludicrous.” She pointed out that Sturgeon herself admitted to knowing about the allegations in March 2018, implying that responsibility for the leak lay elsewhere.
For her part, Sturgeon has sought to tamp down conspiracy theories about a coordinated effort against Salmond involving the Scottish Government, civil service, the complainants, and the Crown Office. In her memoir, she writes, “I was not involved in any conspiracy.” David Clegg echoed this skepticism of conspiracy, telling BBC Scotland, “I find that a conspiracy theory too far. But I think it shows the level of suspicion and the deep rift that had formed between Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon prior to his death.”
Adding to the personal toll, Salmond’s widow, Moira, issued a statement earlier this year expressing the family’s distress over continued public comments about her late husband. She said, “Attacks by the living on the dead will seem to many as deeply unfair. My wish, and sincere hope, is that these attacks will now stop.”
The fallout from the allegations and the leak not only ruptured the SNP but also led to the founding of the Alba Party by Salmond in 2021. Many of Salmond’s closest allies have since left the SNP but remain influential voices in the ongoing campaign for Scottish independence. As the BBC notes, the latest revelations in Sturgeon’s memoir serve as a stark reminder of the dramatic implosion of her partnership with Salmond—a duo that once brought Scotland to the brink of independence in 2014.
The memoir, set for release on August 14, 2025, also touches on other deeply personal topics, including Sturgeon’s miscarriage and her views on sexuality, which she describes as “not binary.” She recounts her own arrest and questioning by police as part of Operation Branchform’s investigation into SNP finances—a day she describes as the worst of her life. Sturgeon was later exonerated, while her husband, Peter Murrell, has since been charged with embezzlement and the couple have separated.
With the Scottish elections looming in just nine months, the publication of Frankly threatens to keep past controversies at the forefront of political debate. First Minister John Swinney, a key figure in both Salmond’s and Sturgeon’s administrations, is now tasked with steering the SNP forward as it faces renewed scrutiny and internal divisions. For many, the saga is not just about two political giants but about the future of Scotland’s independence movement and the integrity of its institutions.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the legacy of Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon—once inseparable allies—will continue to shape the course of Scottish politics for years to come.
